ENG-1991 — Page 300

PUBLIC ORDER

and 19 558 cases were recorded, accounting for 22.1 per cent of the total number of crimes and representing an increase of 3.9 per cent compared with 1990.

Compared with 1990, there was a considerable rise in robberies (+1 109) and burglaries (+1 197); however, an appreciable decrease was recorded in offences relating to wounding and serious assault (-314) and theft from vehicles (-600).

In 1991, the detection rate for crimes was 45.2 per cent. A total of 44 059 persons were arrested for various criminal offences. The number of juvenile offenders (aged under 16) was 7044 compared with 6 583 in 1990. There were 8 165 young person offenders (aged between 16 and 20), a drop of 141 over 1990. The most common crimes committed by juveniles were shop theft and robbery, and those by young persons were wounding and serious assault, miscellaneous theft and robbery.

Organised and Serious Crime

The number of incidents involving the use of genuine firearms in 1991 was 77, compared with 78 in the previous year. There were 511 cases involving the use of pistol-like objects, an increase of 147 over the preceding year.

During the year, police operations against robbery gangs resulted in the seizure of 65 firearms. One notable case involved the recovery of nine handguns and a large quantity of ammunition.

Action against triads was stepped up in view of increased gang activities in late 1990 and 1991. At regional level, there were dedicated anti-triad units to deal with the problem. At Police Headquarters level, the ‘Organised and Serious Crime Group' was redesignated the 'Organised Crime and Triad Group', to reflect more accurately its increasing commitment to anti-triad work.

In October 1990, police successfully raided premises in Sau Mau Ping where a triad initiation ceremony was being held. A total of 18 persons were arrested and subsequently convicted of various offences under the Societies Ordinance. In 1991, follow-up in- vestigations elicited sufficient evidence to lay charges against senior office bearers of the San Yee On triad group.

The theft of luxury vehicles increased dramatically in the early part of 1991. However as a result of stepped-up enforcement action and the introduction of new anti-smuggling legislation, complemented by the close co-operation of the Chinese authorities, the situation was brought under control by mid-year and the number of such thefts plummetted. Many stolen vehicles were recovered.

Commercial Crime

During the year, the Commercial Crime Bureau maintained emphasis on the investigation of fraud in the financial and commercial sectors, in particular offences committed by company and bank officials. A number of successful prosecutions were achieved, and in one case some $147 million was involved. Pre-emptive action against international fraud remained one of the bureau's top priorities.

The bureau enjoyed considerable success in the investigation and prosecution of a number of major cases of counterfeit and forgery. One of the cases involved an international syndicate engaged in handling forged bank drafts, some of which had a face value of US$10 million. In other operations, fake US banknotes and traveller's cheques with a face value exceeding US$7 million were seized.

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